Gas generator



K. W. GOULET GAS GENERATOR Oat. 31, 1939.

Filed July 27, 1958 IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 31, 1939 2,178,372 as RATO Kenneth W. Goulet, Detroit, Mich.

Application July 2'7, 1938, Serial No. 221,582

4 Claims.

h en i vent n pertains t a novel s generator, particularly for producing hydrocyanic acid gas for fumigating buildings, and consists of improvements and simplifications of the apparatus shown in my co-pendng application, Serial No. 208,839, filed May 19, 1938.

The present invention has advantages in addition to those described in the co-pending application, among which is the elimination .of filters at the several gas outlets for removing the liquid acid content in the gas. These filters are eliminated by the use of a funnel for holding thesolid reagent and against whichthe acid content condenses before reaching the outlet. The condensate flows from the surface of the funnel back into the liquid receptacle.

' As in t pr vies le m eat a e d h a s empl wi h mean er pu ures ti a a dangerous P e ure s velspedin the ppa tus, .In h s n n ent es t iaphra is onne t b eans of a r d to a m ab cl at the outlet of the tunnel, whereby said outlet is governed by the gas pressure. In addition, a

ma ua m a s pr vi ed in .enerafiosfle d. if necessary or desired. I

The in en e els se es th pr lem o p e sure e ueesd neryssss s a subi et e e e ion b the a o i ss e ell ms of o dine ma e i are ve x e s n his i v ntion the above m ntion red i ca ibrat d nd oo at w t .s fi ed Par 9 hee p r u tein a the p essu e si e 1Jhe red is as e ed v th d aphr m- .An her es ee thein en el sidesin rounding the acid receptacle with a gas-absorbingas wellas heat-in'sulating material to render a m e an l ka rom e ee tse e- The same material is also eiiective in case of breakage of the receptacle. Powdered charcoal is very appropriate-for this purpose.

Reference to these views will now'be made by .use of like characters that are employedto designate eer es ene n Part th ou h ut Th beer. o h a s tss riee v-s a me a .drwn rerlin hauneen e eva e fe s bottom 2. On the bottom 2 is mounted a crock 3 of suitable ceramic material, extending to the top of the drum as may be seen in Figure 1.

The side wall of the crock 3 is spaced from the wall of the drum, and the space is filled with a suitable heat-insulating and gas-absorbing ma-'- 5 terial such as powdered charcoal, for a purpose that will presently be described. On the top of the drum and the crock is mounted a cover plate 5 preferably provided with a rubber gasket 6'. F Secur g the cover to the drum, the latter 10 has an angle ring 1 secured around its upper edge, with bolts 8 extending therefrom through the edge of thecover and held by wing nuts 9.

The internal partspresently to be described are obviously assembled before the cover is applied. On the upper edge of the drum and crock is mounted a flat ring II) from which hangs a curved lip or channel I I extending into the crock.

In this device is n ounteda ffunnel IZhaving a band It secured around its upper edge. The band, which may be regarded as an integral part of the funnel, rests in the bottom of the channel H for supporting the funnel. The band has two peripheral ,rows M and iii of perforations, one

above and the other below the upper edge of the funnel. The cone of the funnel is so shaped as to leave aspace [,6 from the free edge of the chanand sealed to the diaphragm by an appropriate clamping means 2|. The lower end of the rod carries an upright conical gate or closure 22 adapted to close the discharge opening 23 in the bottom of the funnel.

The portion of the rod 20 passing through the top of the filter I9 is calibrated at '24 to cooperate with the top of the filter to provide a gauge or indicator for the pressure on the diaphragm l8. The upper end 'of the rod 2 0 is'fo-rmed with'a handle 25 to which is attached one end of a lever ,26 iulcrumed at Z'Ionth'e filter'l9,ior manually raising or lowering-therod 2B and gate 22.

In the cover 5 'is forineda porthole 28, with a lid 29, through which lumps 310 of a reagent such as sodium cyanide can be dropped-into the-funnel.

By manipulation of the rod 20, the lumps'are dropped into aliquid reagent 3i such as sulphuric pressures in the apparatus.

acid contained in the crock 3. Examples of these reagents are given in my co-pending application. The gas thus generated flows through the space IS, the perforations I5, the space 32 between the band 13 and the side wall of the channel II, and through the perforations l4 to the under side of the cover 5.

The filter includes a base ring 33 secured over the diaphragm and to the cover 5 by screws 34. To the vertical sides of the ring 33 are fastened perforated cylinders 35 and 36, between which is packed suitable filtering material 37. A hood 38 is mounted over the perforated cylinders and secured thereto by any suitable means such as welding. The hood extends downward approximately to the top of the base ring 33 to prevent rain from entering the perforations. The perforated cylinders are fastened to the ring 33 by a series of screws 39 which, in conjunction with the series of screws 34, permits dismantling of the filter and access to the material 31 for replacement of the same.

In the cover are mounted a desired number of nipples 40 to which are connected hose lines 4! leading to the space to be fumigated, as described in my co-pending application. The gas flowing through the perforations l4 enters the nipples and hose lines and also exerts pressure against the diaphragm l8. Moisture carried upward from the liquid 3| with the gas condenses on the various surfces it encounters, particularly the outside of the funnel I2 from which it drains back into the crock. Whatever liquid condenses in the channel H is drained out through curved tubes or traps ll so bent as to prevent direct flow of gas therethrough from the crock into the channel.

The diaphragm expands according to the pressure developed by the liberated gas, moving the rod 20 proportionally. The pressure is indicated, at least approximately, at the calibrations 24.

The diaphragm I 8 as well as the metal and other parts contacting with the gas are of such a composition as to resist corrosion by the gas. The invention thereby provides an effective and inexpensive pressure gauge which surpasses conventional gauges inasmuch as the latter do not resist the action of the gas, or if constructed of special materials to resist such action, are too expensive. The diaphragm I8 is so constructed and adjusted that the gate 22 closes the opening 23 and uncovers the opening at the desired limit The rod 20 and the gate 22 may be moved manually, if desired, in either direction by the lever 26.

The invention also includes a safety device for puncturing the diaphragm and releasing the gas in case the gas pressure comes close to the eX- plosion point. For this purpose, one or more stems 42 threaded through the top of the hood 38 carry piercing members such as blades 43 above the diaphragm. The diaphragm expands sufiiciently to engage the members and to be punctured by them when the pressure nears the danger point. The space above the diaphragm communicates with the annular filter, through which the released gas escapes to the atmosphere in a harmless condition.

Windows 44 and 45 are provided in the crock and in the drum for showing the level of the liquid in the crock. The liquid is poured into the crock after the cover has been applied, through the porthole 28 with the gate 23 open and before the solid matter 30 has been dropped into the funnel. After pouring in the liquid, the gate 23 is lifted by hand, and the lumps are dropped into the funnel. The rod 20 and gate 23 are held in raised position by a slotted plate 46 slidably mounted on the hood 38 and engagable in a restriction 41 in the rod, as shown in Figure 1. The action is started by opening the gate manually, after which it is more or less automatic, or controlled from the lever 26, as previously described.

Two outlet connections 48 and 49 are provided in the bottom of the crock and extend through the false bottom 2, as illustrated in Figure 1. These are accessible through a slide door 50 in the wall of the drum and below the false bottom 2. The purpose of these fittings is fully disclosed in the co-pending application.

Any leakage of gas over the top of the crock is absorbed by the powdered charcoal 4 which also serves a similar purpose in case the crock should crack.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

, 1. A gas generator comprising a fluid receptacle, a cover therefor, a container for solid material suspended in the top of said receptacle and having an open top and bottom, a movable closure for the bottom opening of said container, an outlet from said cover, and means of communication from said receptacle to said outlet around said container, said cover having an open ing, a diaphragm over said opening, a rod fastened to said closure and diaphragm, and puncturing means supported over said diaphragm and so constructed and arranged that the diaphragm upon expanding beyond a certain point strikes against said puncturing means and punctures itself thereon by the force of its own expansion.

2. A gas generator comprising a fluid receptacle, a cover therefor, a container for solid material suspended in the top of said receptacle and having an open top and bottom, a movable closure for the bottom opening of said container, an :1

outlet from said cover, and means of communication from said receptacle to said outlet around said container, said cover having an opening, a

diaphragm over said opening, a rod fastened to said closure and diaphragm and extending beyond said diaphragm, and pressure indicating means associated with said rod, and puncturing means supported over said diaphragm and so constructed and arranged that the diaphragm upon expanding beyond a certain point strikes against said puncturing means and punctures itself thereon by the force of its own expansion.

3. A gas generator comprising a fiuid receptacle, a cover therefor, a container for solid material suspended in the top of said receptacle and:

having an open top and bottom, a movable closure for the bottom opening of said container, an outlet from said cover, and means of communication from said receptacle to said outlet around said container, said cover having an opening, a

diaphragm over said opening, a rod fastened to said closure and diaphragm, a gas filter mounted around the edge of said diaphragm and clamped to said cover to secure the diaphragm, and puncturing means supported by said filter over said diaphragm and so constructed and arranged that the diaphragm upon expanding beyond a certain point strikes against said puncturing means and expansion.

punctures itself thereon by the force of its own 4. A gas generator comprising a fluid receptlce, a cover therefor, a container for solid material suspended in the top of said receptacle and having an open top and bottom, a movable closure for the bottom opening of said container, an outlet from said cover, and means of communication from said receptacle to said outlet around said container, said cover having an opening, a diaphragm over said opening, a rod fas- 10 tened to said closure and diaphragm, a gas filter mounted around the edge of said diaphragm and clamped to said cover to secure the diaphragm, and puncturing means adjustably supported by said filter over said diaphragm and so constructed and arranged that the diaphragm upon expanding beyond a certain point strikes, against said puncturing means and punctures itself thereon by the force of its own expansion. 

